In-Field Ambient Fine Particle Monitoring of an Outdoor Wood Boiler: Public Health Concerns

ABSTRACT

Outdoor wood boilers (OWBs) are detached wood-fired units that heat water used for domestic consumption and heating. The increasing use of OWBs has prompted regulatory concern because of escalating public complaints. Few field studies of OWB ambient emissions have been conducted, limiting efforts to assess this air quality problem. A screening level evaluation was conducted to characterize ambient fine particle (PM_2.5) levels nearby an OWB device and to overview operating and design factors that could influence PM_2.5 levels. High hourly (186 μ g/m³ 4.3 h mean, 665 μg/m³ 95th percentile) and peak continuous (8,880 μg/m³ 15 s avg) PM_2.5 concentrations were found within 50–150 ft of an OWB relative to background levels throughout the course of nearly routine operating conditions. Values were highest during air intake within 1 h of fuel loading (416 μg/m³ 1 h mean) compared to air-starved 22–24 h after loading (115 μg/m³ 3.3 h mean). OWB features that could affect PM_2.5 levels include exemption from federal wood stove standards, poor combustion design, large firebox capacity, trash burning use, low stack height, and four-season utility. In view of cardiac and respiratory health risks associated with transient exposure to ambient PM_2.5 at levels well below those reported here, this pilot study contributes to the risk assessment field by identifying an emerging problem of potential public health significance.

Key Words:

• air pollution
• PM_2.5
• public health
• outdoor wood boiler
• residential wood combustion
• wood smoke exposure

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The author extends special thanks to the Elliott family for providing an OWB monitoring site and for accommodating the fieldwork in central New York State, and to R. Crampton and R. S. Crampton for field support. For thoughtful comments and useful suggestions, thanks go to D. Brown, J. Graham, and I. Kheirbek, NESCAUM; environmental air bureau and division staff from Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Vermont, and Wisconsin; and J. Koenig, School of Public Health & Community Medicine, University of Washington. Additional thanks to R. Leone, D. Gardner, and D. Pickett, New York Department of Environmental Conservation, for their interest in the fieldwork; G. Allen, NESCAUM, for monitoring equipment and input on study design and fieldwork results; P. Babich, Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, for input on monitoring equipment and fieldwork results; and L. Rector and A. Marin, NESCAUM, for committee and logistical support. The comments from three anonymous reviewers were especially helpful.